Bridge walkway being removed this week

SANDPOINT — The pedestrian walkway at the east end of the Cedar Street Bridge is finally slated for removal this week.

The three-section walkway was slated for removal earlier this year, but it was delayed so arrangements could be made for the installation of a temporary emergency evacuation walkway.

Those seeking access to the Sand Creek peninsula, including the Sandpoint Depot, will have to use Bridge Street.

On the northwest end of the Long Bridge, excavation is complete for a retaining wall for the U.S. Highway 95 bypass’ future southbound on-ramp, according to the Idaho Transportation Department.

Work in that area will also be crucial to the flow of two-way traffic as Parsons RCI and subcontractors continue construction of the Sand Creek Byway.

“They will build that up and that will enable them, as work progresses, to move traffic around and maintain two-way traffic,” said ITD spokeswoman Barbara Babic.

Trucks will be accessing that area for the next several weeks, although flaggers will be on hand to help keep traffic flowing.

The driving of select production piling at the former snow storage site is also expected to continue.

The pile driving is guided by the installation of test piling, which is being used to verify engineers’ design calculations.

“The testing program is to ensure the length and number of pile driving are sufficient,” said Tim Davis, a project manager for Parsons.

There has been speculation that the pile driving has not been going well, but project officials said there is no good or bad — just engineers’ projections and existing soil conditions.

Davis said individual lengths of pile are settling as much as 30 feet before vibration and impact hammers are even engaged.

Meanwhile, wick drains have already been installed on the shoreline extension on the east side of the creek, north and south of Cedar Street Bridge. They’re also slated for installation in about a week at the southwest end of the Long Bridge.

Wick drains are artificial drainage paths which speed the consolidation of compressible layers of soil.

Ryan Alsup, a field engineer for Parsons, said the drains have proved their effectiveness at a test wall site at the former Lakeside Inn.

“It’s already settled a half a foot,” he said.

A complete rundown of construction activities for the next several weeks can be found on the Internet (itd.idaho.gov/Projects/D1).